Norwalk, Harlan, Ballard, Xavier win in 3A state tourney

Norwalk outscored Decorah 12-2 in the third quarter to take command enroute to a 56-43 victory in a class 3A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament. Norwalk coach Brent Walker says Crystal Walker’s threes were a big factor as they allowed them to get the ball inside.

Decorah rallied to within four with just over two minutes to play but the Warriors scored the final nine points of the game. Walker says his team made good decisions most of the game and that’s what it’s about. The Warriors improve to 24-2. Decorah closes out the season 21-4.

Harlan got 16-points and ten rebounds from Kelli Goeser as the Cyclones beat Williamsburg 45-37. Harlan coach Tony Vis says they were looking for someone to score early on and he says Goeser came up big. The Cyclones held of a second half rally by the Raiders who could never get over the hump. Vis says his team tightened up a little when it was a one point game, but he says they got a bucket to keep the lead at three. The Cyclones improve to 23-3.

Ballard showed why it is the top ranked team in class 3A. The Bombers roared out to a 22-5 lead at the end of one in a 70-51 win over Carroll Kuemper. Ballard coach Merle Olberding says they were hoping for a quick start and that’s what they were able to do and never looked back.

Olberding says you never know how the state tournament is going to start out and how the kids will react, but he says they were able to take control early and open up a lead. The Bombers improve to 25-0.

Defending class 3A champion Cedar Rapids Xavier was held without a field goal in the final quarter but the Saints got a free throw from Kelsi Karkosh with point-four seconds remaining as they held of the upset bid of Spirit Lake for a 30-29 win.

Karkosh was fouled on a drive down the lane and says she was still confident even after missing the first attempt. She says they’ve been a little weak on the free throws lately, so they’ve been working on it.